16 Chapter 16: Ms. Information and The Little Princess and The Chaos Wolf

H: "I'm home."

A: "Welcome back~ How was the dungeon exploring~?"

Anya greeted me with a smile when I got upstairs after I escorted Sofiel home. It was a nice day out and being greeted by the time I arrive feels a lot better than just going straight to a hard sleeping bag without anyone there to welcome me.

H: "It was exhilarating!"

I let down the bag that was full of monster crystals half of which Sofiel and I got earlier. He wanted to split it in half but I asked him to have the mana core in exchange of some monster crystals. Still he gave me the half even though he told me to have the mana core for myself. He's really a good guy.

A: "I see~ That's good, isn't it~? Here~ Let me have it~"

I was wearing a leather jacket on top of my usual long sleeved buttoned shirt so Anya removed it for me for it to be hanged properly.

H: "Thank you."

A: "Just wait for a while, okay~? Dinner will be done soon~"

H: "Oho~ What's for tonight's dinner? Is there anything I can help with?"

I went to her side to look at what she's been cooking in a pot.

A: "It's a cream stew~!"

H: "Nice! I'll be having a lot so I hope you got that prepared. Can I have a taste…?"

I was about to use my fingers to pick up a piece of the side dish on the plate, but was tapped by Anya before I got to.

A: "Noooope~ You have to wait. Okay~? And don't worry~ I've prepared a lot knowing you'll be tired tonight~ Fufu~"

H: "That's Anya for you."

We smiled at each other at our usual banter.

C: "… What's with this newly-wed couple like scene…"

T: "Awawa… Hans and Anya got m-married…??"

Ceres and Tia appeared from the bedroom as they went and seat on the chairs in the dining table.

H: "Oh, Ceres and Tia. I'm home."

T: "W-Welcome home, Hans…"

H: "…"

I looked at Ceres with sparkling eyes.

A: "You're not getting any from me with those eyes of yours. And stop it because they're annoying."

She looked the other way while having her chin supported by her hand on the table.

H: "Getting embarrassed~ Geez. Ceres is shy."

C: "Shut it, slime. Stop talking. Like rather, what was that earlier? Are you seducing my Anya? I'll kill you."

She then pointed the bread knife to me.

A: "Here's the Cream Stew~ And it's not like that, Ceres. You worrywart~ I won't be marrying until you do, you know?"

Anya sat down after placing the pot on the table with her using mittens. She really fits the role of a housewife with her perfect attire complemented by the apron. Only idiots would pass up a perfect wife in front of them. Well, we're just friends though and she has a hardcore sister complex to begin with.

C: "Hmm… That's good then."

A: "But I won't be able to take it if you're the one who'll be marrying, so… Ufu… Ufufu…"

Then looking at Ceres, Anya flashed a sinister grin while softly giggling within her breaths.

T: "Awawa… Anya, you're getting scary…!"

H: "What are you showing the kids, Anya! Ceres, stop her!"

I hurriedly hugged Tia while rubbing her head.

C: "You don't have to worry about that, Anya. Guys are just trash. There's no way for me to marry a garbage, isn't there?"

H: "… O-Oh..."

That was really harsh.

A: "Y-You're right~ Fufu~ I lost a bit of my composure there~"

H: ["A bit?"]

T: ["A b-bit…?"]

A: "But earlier was just me remembering the time when Dad was still alive~"

Anya then proceeded to pour the stew in each of our bowl as she tells a story.

A: "I remember Mom usually had that kind of conversation with Dad whenever he comes home from work, so I admired it a little bit~ Fufu~"

H: "I see... So that's how it is. Well, I'm good whenever! You can make me into a husband whenever you want! Here!"

I spread out my arms as I face Anya who's now seated on her chair.

*bonk*

C: "Not happening."

A: "Ara~ Ceres is getting jealous~"

I rubbed the portion in my head where Ceres hit me. Ceres and jokes just don't really go well together. Never a time where she joined and enjoyed herself with our usual quips.

T: "Ah… H-Hans, don't move okay…? Pain… Pain… go away~"

Tia then rubbed my head while gesturing her hand throwing the pain away.

H: "Tia…"

And my pain was thrown away.

H: "… My heart almost stopped…~ But I'm also being healed…~ A complicated feeling…~"

C: "You're being creepy, slime."

A: "Fufu~ Tia's so cute~"

H: "Ah! If I'm the husband and Anya is the wife… Tia will be our daughter, then…"

*bonk*

"Not happening, I said."

I imagined the scenario a bit. Hmm... Not bad.

T: "Awawa… Pain… Pain… Go away~"

A: "Fufu~"

C: "*sigh*"

H: "Owow… Don't worry, Ceres. I was about to give you the position of the dog…"

*boff!*

H: "Gofu-!"

I received a nearly lethal punch in my guts… And just like that, our usual dinner have passed.

Living together under the same roof for a few days got us a whole lot closer than we were before. During work and even off work, we're all together. To this point where we can joke around like this.

I just don't really know about Ceres, though…

In my case, I really think I already got closer to her. I can say things without reservation but well, I still end up getting beaten up for it. But aside from that, she's still cold to me and ignores me most of the time.

Then there're times when she'll just punch me in the gut for no reason at all… I really don't get her.

But it's not that I hate her. I'm just really getting curious to what she's always thinking. I guess, I'm a bit interested, if I say so myself.

Well nonetheless, I guess that's to be expected after being together for only a few days. I still have a lot of chance to get closer.

…

I sat down on my mattress with the monster crystals and one mana core in front of me.

We finished dinner earlier and now they all have went to sleep. It's now time for me to do my business.

…

Name: Hans Alius Schmidt

Race: Human

Class: None

[Status]

Strength: 206/9999

Agility 82/9999

Intelligence 75/9999

Defense 15/9999

[Skills]

Mana Detect Lv. 9/10

Crush Strike Lv. 8/10

Status Lv. 1/1

[Crystal Points: 15]

…

I opened my status display to check it once again. Nothing has change much ever since I absorbed some of the monster crystals that I got from the Murborrows when I went to the dungeon with Ceres.

Hm?

Mana Detect and Crush Strike leveled up. Mana Detect is now level 9 and Crush Strike leveled up to 8. I guess that's the result of using it a number of times earlier inside the dungeon. Now that I've noticed it, I can now use Mana Detect more efficiently. I can detect a mana formation even without having to look at it. It's like sensing something even if it's still far away without having to actually look for it. A built in radar it is. Crush Strike, on the other hand, a skill where I use my knife to stab a monster in downward fashion, got stronger to the point of obliterating the body of a Ground Arachnia which is known for its impenetrable defense.

But still… After using it so many times, I haven't maxed their level yet, huh? Things won't be easier after all, as expected. Well, good thing they leveled up, at least. Just a little bit more and they're maxed anyways.

[Crystal Points: 15]

The crystal points are still the same. Of course, I haven't absorbed any ever since last time. But now, I really need to think about which status to increase first.

I picked up the monster crystals one by one.

H: "Yes."

Then light engulfed the monster crystal and it got absorbed in my body. The warmth spread throughout and I felt relaxed in an instant.

…

I did the same thing over and over again until there's only 10 left. These will be enough to exchange for money at the Guild.

All in all, I got 86 monster crystals and I absorbed 76 of them. They had the same size with the Murborrows so I only gained 1 crystal point from each. So now I have 91 crystal points that I can use to increase a status.

As for the ones that will be exchanged, one monster crystal with this size costs 10 coppers. So times that to 10, I will be getting 1 silver coin.

Hmm…

That's too few…

I guess, I'll just have to go and hunt more tomorrow. I got too absorbed in absorbing them.

H: "Pfft…"

Absorbed in absorbing them…

H: "Pfft…! Ah… Ahem…"

I almost looked like an idiot.

Getting back, now for this mana core. Sofiel explained a while ago that these are the somewhat the hearts of the monsters and is formerly a concentration of corrupted mana. Absorbing a corrupted entity in my body is something to question about, but… This is the other world. Using my common sense here will only drive me insane.

H: "…"

It wouldn't hurt to try.

H: "Yes."

It did the same thing with the monster crystals and it was absorbed inside my body followed by a surge of heat.

H: "Wha…"

H-Hot…!

What the heck… It's not warm like it does when it's with the monster crystals, instead, it's hot. I kind of feel my body burning up!

H: "…!! *cough*"

I'm starting to think I did something I shouldn't do.

H: "Ack… *pant* *pant* *gulp* … Phew…"

It passed…

That was a bit of a surprise… I never thought it would have that kind of effect. It didn't hurt me after it so I don't think it's not something bad.

Wait, the announcement…

<[Harden] skill acquired>

<[Damage Resistance] skill acquired>

Hm? Is it just me or did Ms. Information waited for me to get my composure back before speaking?

But these… Harden and Damage Resistance. I got two skills from just absorbing a mana core from the Ground Arachnia. Maybe, absorbing mana core from a specific monster may give me skills based from its traits?

H: "Whoa…"

What's this…? This is too awesome… and is too over powered… Well not really, but if I just hunt for the perfect monsters and absorb their mana core, it will make me even more powerful.

H: "Haha… It's basically a cheat."

I opened up my status display and touch the words that spells the skill.

Just based from how I battled with monsters, these skill will be a huge power up. My defense status right now is the lowest in all of my status so I can now compensate for it with these.

And they're both still level 1. So for each mana core, I will gain 1 level for the skill, I think. If I leveled it up, it will get a lot stronger for sure.

H: "…"

I feel my body tremble with excitement. It's always the same whenever I gain something new. I can't wait to test it and I can't wait to level it up to make it stronger. I guess, I'm making up for the childhood which I lost because of the war. I don't really know why but I'm really enjoying myself right now.

H: "Now for the distribution of crystal points…"

For now, I've gotten a great deal from the skills I just earned to compensate for my defense, so that will be left as is for a while. My strength is the highest right now followed by agility and next is intelligence.

Still…

H: "What are the effects of these in my skills…?"

H: "Uwa… Don't speak suddenly out of nowhere… That scared me…"

H: "Nah, it's okay. You don't have to apologize."

<Affirmative. Strength is correlated to the->

H: "Huh?? Wait?? Wait, wait!! You're responding to me??"

I replied back normally because of the sudden response but…

H: "F-For real? I thought you're just like a system announcement…"

<Negative. Ms. Information can communicate with the user>

H: "… I know I'm the one who named that but… Why call yourself Ms. Information?"

H: "Uh… Okay… *sigh* It's surprises after surprises ever since I got to this world and you didn't fail to be one. Anyways, my inquiry earlier."

Is this how the Observer set this power before he gave it to me? Or is it something I made? If I did… This just makes me like some lonely guy…

H: "I see. Agility and Defense is how I thought it should be."

But Strength makes my physical attacks stronger regardless if I'm using a skill or not. So I guess even the mere swing of my arm can be affected by this? Like the time when I punched the tree and bore a hole through it?

And Intelligence on the other hand, makes my magical attacks stronger?

Wait…

So I can use magic?

H: "… Uhehehe~"

<Affirmative. Uhehehe~>

H: "You don't have to do that too! Now I'm embarrassed by myself!"

Is she copying me?

H: "… I guess you're always there, huh. I don't know where though. But were you listening to me all day?"

H: "Hmm…"

I see. I guess I have a new objective now.

H: "But still…"

There's a chance for me to use magic, huh~ Now I can't wait to learn it! But first I have to find someone who can teach me. It's not like I can use it out of the blue without properly learning it. I asked Anya and Sofiel some time ago during our break how to learn magic, or in other words, mana manipulation. They said that I have someone teach it to me first before I can use it. Even a magician starts from another magician teaching them the way of using mana manipulation. It is a prerequisite of an aspiring magician before he or she can learn a skill from the Guild. If a magician can't do a mana manipulation then the Guild won't grant them the option to choose the Magician class.

Though, if I can find a mana core that can grant me a magic skill, then maybe there's a possibility of me using them without being taught.

H: "Alright. I'll put all my crystal points to my Intelligence."

Uhehe… With this… My magic power will increase…~

I lay down on my mattress after doing everything that needs to be done for my status and now I close my eyes after basking with the night light enjoying the bliss I am feeling from all these developments.

…

A: "Hans~ May I ask a favor~?"

I was fixing my mattress and placing it in the corner of the living room which is my bedroom for now, when Anya called out to me while cooking.

H: "Hm? What is it?"

A: "Since it's an off today, do you have something planned for today~?"

I didn't plan anything in particular but if I had to say something, it will be just me going to the dungeon to continue collecting monster crystals.

10 days have passed since I got to go to the dungeon with Sofiel and today is another day off at work. It's really hard to count the days without the week system, so I just made the three partition of the month into weeks for my own convenience. A month will have three weeks and each week contains ten days. Yeah, that really will be better.

So, for the whole week, I worked relentlessly at the restaurant and helping Ceres and Anya out whenever I had the chance. It was always busy but nevertheless fun since I love cooking originally.

By this time, I'm already used around the kitchen where I can move around even with my eyes closed. And in my free time, I would go around the town just wandering and enjoying the scenery.

But today, it seems like Anya have something planned for me.

A: "We have to restock again, so may I ask you to gather the supplies~?"

H: "Sure, let me do it then. Do you have something on for today? What about Ceres?"

A: "Yep~ It's work at the Guild. Actually, that one time when Ceres and I met you, I personally asked the Guild to let me have an off to gather supplies~ Ceres had some business to attend to day."

H: "I see. If that's so then, consider it done. Leave it to me."

I don't have any reason to refuse her and I can just go to the dungeon next time since I'm not specially in a hurry. And I want to do anything that I can to help them. It's the least I can do for them who let me in, a total stranger before.

A: "Really~? Hear that, Tia~?"

H: "Tia?"

T: "U-Uhm… I want to… go too!"

A: "And~ Be careful around the Chaos Wolf, okay~? I heard it's now attacking random travelers…"

And so, it became a day out with Tia in tow.

…

T: "*figet* *fidget*"

H: "What's wrong, Tia?"

Tia and I are on our way to Traveler's Forest to gather some supplies that will be used as ingredients for the restaurant.

It was actually an hour travel by foot from Florensia so we're just walking for a while now. Anya insisted we use the usually rented cart for this kind of errands but I told her the sacks will do. I also wanted to test the Strength status and whether to which extent I can use it.

I plan to carry the luggage using my hands.

T: "Ah! Nuh-uh… *fidget* I'm just…"

H: "Just…?"

Tia holds her hand on her chest while slightly fidgeting. I almost asked her if she wants to go to the toilet but Tia is also a girl. Being asked by a guy would be embarrassing for her.

T: "I'm just so excited…!"

H: "… I see."

I couldn't help but smile at her innocent remark. She flashed a smile like a child having the day of her life as her eyes then wander around everywhere.

H: "Didn't you get to go out much before?"

T: "Y-Yes…"

Now that I think about it…

I don't really know much about Tia. It's like she was just normally around us before we knew it.

I met her when I went to save Ceres and found Tia kidnapped along with her. The kidnapper had a Gift that can make him spot Gift users just by looking at them. Then the kidnapper said that time that he was lucky to stumble upon her, which means she's also a Gift user, right?

H: "Tia."

T: "Hmhmhm~~ ♪ Hm…? Wh-What is it, Hans?"

H: "Ah…"

But when I saw her pure smile, the cat got my tongue.

I couldn't just go ahead and remind her of a frightful experience just because I got curious. If I'm not mistaken, then Tia should be just a young girl. I haven't really actually asked her age but from the times I've spend with her, it's just as obvious, I think.

Initially, when I met her, it all looked like she's a strong-willed girl. Even after all that happened, she was still unyielding and remained silent all throughout the ordeal. She was too calm for a child who is in such environment.

But after that, it seemed it was just my first impression and nothing at all. She was a timid and shy girl who reserved from everyone around her. But…

Impressions cannot be trusted, I guess.

T: "Hans?"

H: "Ah…"

It seems like I was spacing out for a while and Tia noticed that and called out to me.

H: "It's nothing. I was just remembering the time when I first met you."

T: "E-Eh?? Wh-What do you mean…?"

Hm? Why is she being flustered from that?

H: "I just thought you were a lot different from that time."

T: "H-Hmm… I-I see…"

H: "But I guess it was just my first impression on you playing a part on me."

T: "Aha-Ahahaha…"

I brought out the list that Anya gave us before going out. She said these will be all the things we will be needing.

H: "Let's first go through the vegetables and herbs."

T: "Okay!"

H: "So we will need… Ah… Tia… Can you read them for me? I still can't read, you see."

T: "Really??"

Is it really that surprising for me not to be able to read? Perhaps the education system here is not that bad, after all? Seeing Tia widen her eyes from surprise, that's what I thought.

H: "Yeah… I really need to study how to read sooner or later…"

T: "… You're really weird, Hans…"

Tia received the piece of paper from me and open it. She then looked at me with curious eyes.

H: "Hm?"

T: "I-I mean… You can cook… You're great at cooking actually… And you know a l-lot of things… Then the n-next thing… You don't know something… or like now."

H: "Ahh…"

She's sharp…

H: "It looks like you're really looking at me then."

T: "…~!!"

H: "Haha. I'm just kidding. But…"

Her face became flushed from cheeks to ear and almost had the paper in her hand crumpled while gripping her dress tightly.

H: "Let's see… If Tia told me her secret, then I will too."

T: "!!"

She froze in her feet after my sudden remark like something unexpected met her face to face.

T: "…"

H: "…"

She continued to keep quite while having her head hanged down. I patiently waited for her to speak but…

T: "… W-What are you suddenly talking about, H-Hans…?"

She looked up at me while wearing a wry smile.

H: "… Hm. Haha. Don't mind it. I was just fooling around."

There's no reason for me to force her to tell me anything. And I don't think anything will change even if did or not. She's Tia. A little girl I saved. That's all I know and that will always be the case inside me.

If she herself doesn't want to tell me, then I don't mind.

H: "Right, the list?"

T: "Ah… Y-Yes… Uhm…"

H: "Hm?"

I was waiting for to tell me the contents of the list, but Tia stopped her feet as if wanting to say something.

T: "Hans…"

H: "Yeah?"

T: "You're really k-kind…"

H: "Not really."

I understood what she meant by her words, but I really think I am not. Hence, my reply.

…

H: "Ponion, garlunc, polelo, fomapo, settuce, garrot, and… what was it again?"

T: "Remon."

H: "Right, remon."

Remon is simply lemon. I'm really starting to doubt someone's naming sense here.

We're already inside the forest and now we're on our little hunt for the vegetables and herbs. At first I thought it will only just end up with us pulling them out from the ground or cutting some of the part from a plant or something, but it turns out that…

H: "Tia! It went there!"

T: "Y-Yes!!"

… we have to catch them first. Tia and I are now trying to capture the ponion.

H: "Ugh… Why does onions here have to make it hard to harvest them??"

T: "O-Onions…?"

Whenever I use the names of the vegetables from my world, they always seemed surprised. Later then I found out that even with only a single letter different, the phonetics sounds different from my world. That's why, ponion is a lot different than onion in their ears.

H: "Alright! Tia don't move from there!

Tia is standing in front of the ponion which is now standing with its to feet while pitter-pattering looking for a way out.

I slowly walked towards it trying to be as silent as possible.

H: "Just… a little… more…

T: "Awawa…"

I readied the capture net that was prepared for cases like this in my hand.

Hah. This ponion… It doesn't know who it is challenging. I'm the Golden Death God, I swiftly reaps lives. In terms of speed, no soldier can match me… Heh.

H: "…"

But thinking about that name again now… It's kind of embarrassing…

T: "N-Now, Hans!"

H: "Here!"

I hammered down the capture net where the ponion was and successfully captured it.

T: "You did, Hans!"

Tia jumped up and down from the excitement. I can't help but feel elated from the sense of achievement.

H: "Yeah! All thanks to you. You can really run around, eh Tia?"

T: "Hehe~ We F-Faunalians are just good with moving our bodies."

I got the ponion and cut off the feet from its bottom.

H: "Ugh…"

I kinda feel bad for it… But this is the wild… It's to eat or be eaten. I'm sorry little ponion. I will make you into nutrients to make the human body healthier.

H: "Your death won't be in vain…!"

T: "… Hans…? Ahaha…"

H: "But then again, they're mostly grown in the Traveler's Forest, huh?"

I look around the orest and saw most of the vegetables that we need are found almost everywhere. And from what I've heard, it seems like too much hunting and gathering is not a problem here since they spawn at a fast rate.

T: "Yes… I heard from Anya that Ceres wanted to create more recipes but the easily procured ingredients can only be gathered from the nearest forest."

H: "Makes sense."

You can easily buy them from the market if you want to but the cost are higher the more they are procured from a far location. Well, considering the cost from the transport and other stuff, it will really up its price. Ceres usually doesn't want to waste even a single penny from something she couldn't get so she's the one who go out of her way to gather the ingredients. But this time, it seems like she has some business to take care of.

H: "Let's go to the next one?"

T: "Yes."

We went our way deeper inside the forest where some of the plants are located. We will also be gathering meat on the way so there really as a need to go deep. The problem is, the more you go deep inside the forest, the fiercer the monster will be. Even the Slimes are found there. But the most fearsome monster to be aware of hear is the Chaos Wolf.

H: "Tia. Have you heard anything about the Chaos Wolf here?"

T: "Ah… Yes. A little. They were talking about it in the Guild whenever I go there with Anya."

It seems like she got used to being around Anya and even joining her when she's working. She's gaining a little bit of popularity from other adventurer's too. The little princess, or they always call her.

T: "They say… it made the forest its territory and won't let any other monster or person to go inside it… It appeared a hundred years ago and it became a fearsome existence for the adventurers as there are some of them that fell victim to it and lost their lives…"

Saying that, Tia had a crestfallen face.

H: "I see."

I pat her head to comfort her.

Whoever she is, even without the Gift of Anya, even I can judge that Tia is a gentle girl who cares for the lives of others.

T: "Ehe~"

H: "Tia?"

T: "I… I really liked getting my heat pat by Hans. It makes me feel really calm…"

She placed her hand where my hand was just placed.

H: "Don't worry. I'll keep patting your head whenever you want to."

T: "Really??"

H: "Of course. But for now…"

I held her hand and pulled her to my back.

H: "We have to deal with this guy, first."

This whole time, I have Mana Detect activated to search for incoming monsters. And here I thought I would only be receiving signals from regular monsters. But…

T: "A Ch-Chaos Wolf?!"

H: "It seems so."

C.W: "Grrrowl…!"

It was the boss who appeared.

A huge wolf reaching almost a fourth of the 15 meter tall trees that surrounds us. It's noticeably larger than the Queen Ground Arachnia. Its pitch black fur that covers its whole body shines from the slightly passing sunlight. Not only it is shiny, it looks like it's hard as a metal from the way it spikes out from its skin. There is a horn that is protruding from its forehead that looks sharp with the addition of huge claws from its feet.

But the most sinister of it all is the dark aura that is already visible coming out from it.

H: "Now this has become a pinch."

C.W: "*stomp* *stomp* Groooooooooooooooowl!!!"

I think of scenarios that may happen from here on out.

If we escape from it, I think we won't be able to outrun it and can catch up to us in mere seconds because of its size and its legs that look like they went to the gym only for leg day. If we fight, I will have to fight while protecting Tia. I know she's a Faunalian that are known best with their physical abilities. But I still don't know if she can really fight. And our opponent is one of the dangerous monsters that is known in the Guild. I can't have her fight even if she could.

Calling for help is of course, out of the question. There are no Communals here to use to call others. I don't know any magic that can be use with the same purpose. First of all I don't know how to use magic.

To sum it up…

H: "… This will be a hard battle."

T: "… Hans."

But all of a sudden, Tia went from behind me to my front facing the huge Chaos Wolf which is now growling with anger releasing steam from its mouth.

H: "Tia? What are you doing?"

T: "This is my fault. It was my idea to bring you here and asked Anya to let me go with you here."

H: "… What do you mean?"

She glared at the Chaos Wolf with her hands curled into a fist. I can see her expression all different from the usual Tia. No… It's like it's more natural for her to look like it…

H: "Tia…?"

T: "I wanted to test you. I want to observe you the fight monsters to gauge your battle prowess but I didn't think the Chaos Wolf itself would show up… It is a miss on my part."

H: "…"

I stared at her silently while patiently waiting for her next explanation.

But it was suddenly interrupted by the fast swing of the Chaos Wolf's claw so I grabbed Tia from her waist and jumped towards the opposite direction.

H: "Hup…! Phew… That was close…"

The place where we were standing now has a huge crater formed on it. One single attack from the Chaos Wolf created that large destruction. I shivered from the thought of receiving that attack imagining we couldn't made it in time to dodge.

T: "Wh-Wha-?? Hans?? What are you doing?? Let me down!"

H: "Oh… My bad."

The huge monster had its claws stuck from the ground and is not stuck to its place. If we are looking for a chance to escape then this is definitely the perfect one.

H: "Tia, let's g-"

T: "We cannot."

H: "…"

T: "It will just catch up to us. I also heard from the adventurers. That once it locks onto a pray, it will chase it until the exit of the forest."

H: "Hmm…"

Tia really has a different feel now.

The timid and shy, reserved Tia is nowhere to be found and only a mature and brave girl is in front of me.

Or…

Is this her true self…?

T: "Hans…"

H: "Yeah?"

I was ready for any attacks and is now on my combat mode.

T: "You see, I'm very happy that I met you."

H: "Don't say anything further."

I can already guess what she will be saying so I stopped her from doing so. But she still continued what she wanted to say.

T: "At first. I just wanted to use you. I needed someone strong for my own convenience. To fulfill my objectives."

H: "…"

T: "But I think I will not be able to do that anymore. I am sorry, Hans. Forgive me."

H: "… There're no sorry and no forgiving here. You haven't done something that cost you that to me and I don't have anything held against you to grant you forgiveness."

T: "But Hans! I just wanted to use you so I approached you!! I was deceiving you!"

H: "… *sigh*"

This girl...

T: "That's why please… I'll create a chance for you to escape. I told you, Faunalians can be quite strong so you don't have to mind me. Hehe…"

She flashed me a forced smile but I know what really is behind it.

H: "What about you?"

T: "…"

H: "*sigh* What an idiot. Is Ceres' attitude affecting you already? Is stubbornness a contagious disease now?"

T: "… Eh…?"

I reached my hands to her head and pat her.

H: "I told you. If you want to have your head pat, I'll do it whenever."

T: "H-Hans…"

She looked at me with tears flowing down her cheeks.

H: "And that also goes when you want help. If you want my help, just say so. I'll run towards you to save you."

T: "But… But…!"

H: "No buts."

*bonk*

I hit her head lightly as punishment. It seems like she really just won't listen even after saying that much then all I can do now is show her. I pull her back behind me once again and brought out my combat knife.

H: "You see. I have a disease that if I don't save the people that're important to me, I'll die."

T: "Pft… Wh-What is that…?"

She immediately covered her mouth after a soft giggle escaped her lips.

H: "You finally laughed. A cute girl like you shouldn't cry. A smile is the best for you."

T: "… Ah..."

I said something cool but that doesn't change the fact that this will be a hard battle. Honestly I don't think I can finish this without losing a limb or two.

I recalled my status and skills in my head. I can only rely on my Strength and my only offensive skill, Crush Strike. I still can't use magic so I can't put Intelligence to good use here.

Ugh… If I knew this would happen, I should've put my crystal points in my Strength or Defense.

But it's no use crying over spilt milk. I have to do this.

T: "Hans."

H: "Don't worry. I will get you out of here safe."

T: "That's not it…"

H: "Hm?"

I glance behind me and I saw her having a determined look on her face. It looks like she's now given up and decided to leave it to me.

T: "Form a contract with me."

H: "… Huh?"

…

Chapter 16 End

Name: Hans Alius Schmidt

Race: Human

Class: None

[Status]

Strength: 206/9999

Agility 82/9999

Intelligence 171/9999

Defense 15/9999

[Skills]

Mana Detect Lv. 9/10

Crush Strike Lv. 8/10

Status Lv. 1/1

Harden Lv. 1/10

Damage Resistance Lv. 1/10

[Crystal Points: 0]

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